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Living with coronavirus: The world will never be the same and we tell you how exactly!

01/8The world will never be the same and we tell you how exactly!

Even as we learn more about the novel coronavirus every day, the COVID-19 pandemic is continuing to change the face of the normalcy in unprecedented ways. This highly infectious disease is wreaking havoc across the globe and has infected more than 5 million people and the number of reported deaths has crossed the 3,34,689 mark. In this situation of widespread uncertainty and confusion, the only grain of truth is that the world will not be the same when all this subsides.

As we gear up to enter the 6th month of the year, people are planning reunions, shopping sprees and eating at their favourite restaurants once again whenever life returns to normalcy. However, there is no guarantee that things will go back to pre lockdown normalcy, at least in the near future. Case in point, India has already lifted several restrictions in its phase 4 of lockdown and the number of positive coronavirus cases is steadily increasing.

While society may gradually warm up to the idea of washing hands frequently and social distancing, the truth is, these practices could very well become a part of our everyday lives. With empty theatres, closed shopping malls, vacant restaurants and soulless stadiums, we are heading towards a brave new world. The COVID-19 pandemic will not only leave an immense impact globally, but it will also change the very fibre of our daily lives. Here are some of the ways, we will be living with coronavirus, long after the urgency is over:

02/8Streaming: The undisputed king

OTT platforms had already sprung in action in even before the pandemic took a toll over the whole world, but they have become our lone source of entertainment in the face of the current pandemic. After the pandemic, the whole concept of watching a live match or enjoying the first day, the first show of your favourite movie in a theatre near you, will go through a dramatic change. In addition to streaming movies, even live concerts and sporting events will be made available right in the comfort of your home, without even needing to step out of your pyjamas.

03/8​You will think before you shop

Another sector which is bound to go through a sea of change is the mentality of ‘shopping for show-off’. If there is anything which has been made evident during these testing times is the fact that we hardly need more than two pair clothes, a roof over our heads and fresh food to eat to survive.

The ongoing ban on delivering of non-essential items has underlined how we can actually sustain with what we already have. So, from those shiny designer handbags, a new pair of sneakers to a brand new shade of lipstick that your co-worker has worn, anything which is not essential is pretty much useless right now. This change of behaviour is bound to stay as people have finally understood how little they need to be really happy and live a full life.

04/8​Emergency funds will become a priority

The pandemic has certainly brought to light the harsh, cold truth that saving money is indeed the need of the hour. As the novel coronavirus continues to claim lives across the globe, the need for an emergency fund has become all the more important. Keeping the current state of the global economy, it is important to keep aside money for emergency situations.

05/8​Wanderlust with a mask on

Thanks to the ongoing pandemic, the face of travelling is bound to change in unprecedented ways including the habits of strutting across the globe. With stringent health checks at the airports and redesigning of the seating plan, the cost of flying is bound to go up drastically. Going forward, while you may afford to leave your swimsuits and sunscreens behind, but hand sanitizers and face covers are going to be a must for travelling.

06/8​An era of digital menus and contactless dining

In addition to contactless food delivery that we are gradually getting used to, the idea of dining and hitting the bar will certainly change a 180 degree. When the restaurants and bars actually open up, renewed importance will be placed on wearing of gloves, face masks and hair covers by the chefs and the dining staff. The dining areas might be made contactless, with digital menus presenting an array of options instead of a waiter reciting today’s specials. The eateries may also reconfigure their kitchens to make them transparent and include live camera feeds from the same to provide reassurance of safety for their customers.

07/8​No more chai-sutta sessions at work

With a certain number of relaxations in the fourth phase of the lockdown, private and government sectors may call in 50 per cent of their staff strength to work on alternate days. However, going back to work may not be how it seems as maintaining at least 1-metre of distance, wearing masks and face shields and not huddling in a group may be made mandatory. This means that those familiar breaks with your co-workers in the nearest ‘tapri’ for chai, samosa and sutta may be a thing of past.

On the other hand, some organisations may also continue to operate remotely after seeing successful results during the lockdown. All in all, the idea of ‘work from home has shifted immensely from a luxury to a necessity.

08/8​The rise of telemedicine and affordable healthcare

Most importantly, the pandemic has impacted the healthcare sector the most. As the sacrifices of our front line workers in this battle against coronavirus become more evident with every passing day, more and more emphasis will be placed on making the healthcare system affordable.

Moreover, the demand to provide our doctors and nurses with sufficient equipments will also rise which are needed to survive emergency circumstances including a pandemic. On the other hand, the practice of remote diagnosis and caring for patients remotely will see an immense rise. It will be done to ensure the safety of both the patient and the doctor as it will reduce the beelines in front of the clinics.